Double throw needle protector



June 6, 1967 E.VOSSEN- 3,323,333

DOUBLE THROW NEEDLE PROTECTOR Filed April 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTOR. ED WARD V055 E N ATTORNEY June 6, 1967 E. VOSSEN 3,323,333

DOUBLE THROW NEEDLE PROTECTOR Filed April 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 0 mm V INVENTOR. EDWARD VOSSEN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,323,333 DOUBLE THROW NEEDLE PROTECTOR Edward Vossen, Malverne, N.Y., assignor to Stop- Motion Devices (Burp, Plainview, NY. Filed Apr. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 450,028 4 Claims. (c1. 66-166) The present invention relates to a double throw needle protector for knitting machines and more particularly to a double throw needle protector for those knitting machines described and classified as circular and flat knitting machines and having stop-motion devices associated therewith.

The present invention provides a needle protector having a pointer which, upon slight lateral movement thereof in either direction with respect thereto, will activate the needle protector. This double throw feature permits the needle protector to be utilized with flat knitting machines, as well as circular knitting machines; and is an improvement over my prior invention described in U.S. Patent 2,481,632, granted Sept. 13, 1949, and entitled, Retractable Electric Needle Protector for Knitting Machines.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a double throw needle protector for use with a circular or flat knitting machine having a stop-motion device, wherein said protector, upon the detection of lumps of fuzz from the threads and yarns which have accumulated upon the needles of said machine or similar defect or impediment in the knitted fabric being knitted by said machine, will activate said stop-motion device to cause the same to deactivate said knitting machine It is another object of the present invention to provide a needle protector for knitting machines having a pointer to be placed immediately adjacent the fabric knitted by said machine and in close proximity to the needles thereof, in order to detect lumps of fuzz upon said needles or similar defects in said fabrics.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a needle protector for knitting machines wherein the pointer thereof has forward and retracted positions and is adapted to move laterally a slight distance in either direction, upon the detection of lumps of fuzz on the needles of said machine or similar impediments in the fabric being knit thereby, thus causing said pointer to move from its forward to its retracted position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a needle protector for knitting machines which will cause said knitting machine to be deactivated upon the detection of lumps of fuzz on the knitting needles or similar defect in the fabric, thereby preventing the knitting needles of said machine from becoming damaged or broken and also preventing the knitted fabric being knitted by said machine from being produced with defects therein.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a double throw needle protector for knitting machines which can easily be reset for the defect-sensing operation thereof without necessitating manipulation of the pointerthereof.

It is still a' further object of the present invention to provide a double throw needle protector for knitting machines which can be manufactured simply, easily and rela tively inexpensively and which is extremely durable.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the double throw needle protector of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the needle protec- "ice tor shown in FIGURE 1 in its disassembled form, depicting the individual components thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the needle protector shown in FIGURE 1 taken on the line 33 thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the needle protector taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the needle protector taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 3 showing the needle protector with the pointer thereof in its forward position.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the needle protector, similar to FIGURE 6, showing the pointer deflected rightwardly thereof and intermediate its forward and retracted positions.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the needle protector, similar to FIGURE 6, showing the pointer deflected leftwardly thereof and intermediate its forward and retracted positions.

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the needle protector shown in FIGURE 8 with the pointer thereof in its fully retracted position.

FIGURE 10 is a partial sectional view illustrating the latching engagement of the pointer and tubular member of the needle protector, when the pointer is in its forward or sensing position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a double throw needle protector 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising a tubular member 12, a resilient spring member 14, a pointer 16, a plunger 18, having a stem 20 and a cap 22; said pointer, plunger and stem preferably being made as an integral unit.

The front end 24 of the tubular member 12 has an opening 26 formed therein, which opening has side portions which are narrower than the center portion thereof. The front end 24 also includes a small flange member 28 centrally disposed within said opening 26 and projecting outwardly therefrom; said flange forming two slots 30 and 32 with respect to the side walls defining the center portion of the opening 26.

In the assembly of the needle protector, the coiled spring 14 is inserted into the tubular member 12 and the pointer 16 is inserted into said spring with the front portion thereof projecting through the opening 26 in the front end 24 of said tubular member. The cap 22 is secured to the top of the tubular member by being threadedly engaged thereby. The plunger 18 is slidably movable within said tubular member between forward and retracted positions, as is said pointer which has its inner end connected to said plunger. The spring 14 is interposed between the front end of the tubular member and the outer end of the plunger and urges or biases the plunger, and thereby said pointer, into its retracted position, as clearly seen in FIGURE 9.

The pointer 16 has a reduced shank portion 34 and a boss 36 positioned slightly outward from said shank position; said boss being substantially rectangular in shape and being secured with respect to said pointer by being soldered thereto, being formed integrally therewith or by being embossed thereon.

An electrical circuit is connected to the stop motion device of the knitting machine and has the needle protector connected in said circuit as a switch which is in its closed position when the plunger 18 is in its retracted position; the stop motion device being activated upon the closing of said switch.

The cap 22, which is made of an electrically insulative material, has an electrically conductive tubular member 38 mounted therein, which member is connected to a terminal 40 by means of an arm 42. An insulation tube 43 is inserted within the tubular member 38 and serves to insulate the plunger stem 20, which projects therethroug-h, from the tubular member 38. When the plunger 18 is in its retracted position, the inner end thereof, which is of conical configuration, engages the inner end of the tube 38, thereby completing the circuit between the tubular member 38 and the plunger 18, and more particularly the circuit between the terminal 40 and the tubular member 12, to which said plunger is electrically connected, thus activating said stop motion device and causing the same to deactivate the knitting machine.

For the purposes of illustration, the operation of the needle protector will be described in conjunction with a circular knitting machine having a stationary head wherein the fabric knitted thereby revolves around said head.

The needle protector is secured with respect to said head, with the pointer 16 being directed radially outwardly therefrom. The pointer 16 is normally biased in its retracted position, as shown in FIGURE 9, by the spring 14; the boss 36 being positioned within the slot 32 which serves as a keyway therefor. When the pointer 16 is in said retracted position, the front portion thereof is bent or biased in a laterally offset direction with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof by the force of the flange 28 against the boss 36; the reduced shank portion 34 of said pointer permitting bending or lateral movement of the front portion thereof. The needle protector is set for the defect-sensing operation thereof by momentarily moving the plunger stem inwardly, thus causing the plunger 18 to move forwardly within the tubular member 12 and the pointer 16 to move outwardly with respect thereto into its forward position. The outward movement of said pointer causes the boss 36, which is slidably movable within the keyway 32, to move outwardly therethrough, thus permitting the forward portion of said pointer to assume its normal unbiased position, whereupon the inner end of said boss is latchingly engaged by said flange 28 to maintain said pointer in its forward or sensing position, as seen in FIGURES 6 and 10. When the knitted fabric 44 rotates in a clockwise or upward direction, as viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7, the pointer, which is provided with a tip 46, has the tip placed immediately adjacent said fabric, and more particularly the finished stitches being knitted by the knitting machine. This enables the fabric to smoothly pass by said tip without engaging the same. When the fabric contains a lump of fuzz, such as that indicated by the reference numeral 48, or some other similar defect therein, the tip 46 engages the same and further movement of said fabric causes a slight rightward or upward lateral movement of the pointer 16 (as viewed in FIGURE 7), causing the boss 36 to become disengaged from the flange 28 and positioning said boss within the keyway 30, and permitting the spring 14 to return the plunger 18 and said pointer to their retracted positions. The movement of the plunger 18 into its retracted position energizes the stop motion device which causes the knitting machine to be deactivated, and thus prevents any damage to the knitting needles of the machine, and also prevents said machine from knitting a fabric having defects therein. It is to be noted that if lumps or fuzz are carried by the knitting needles, they will also cause the protector to activate the stop motion device in the manner hereinabove described.

The operation of the needle protector with the pointer 16 oriented in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9, is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described in connection with FIGURES 6 and 7. However, in this instance the fabric 44 rotates in a counterclockwise or downward direction, as viewed in FIGURES 8 and 9. When the tip 46 engages the lump of fuzz 48 in said fabric, it causes a slight leftward or downward lateral movement of the pointer 16 (as viewed in FIGURE 8), causing the boss 36 to become disengaged from the flange 28 and positioning the same within the keyway 32, thus permitting the spring 14 to return the plunger 18 and the pointer 16 to their retracted positions, causing the stop motion device to be energized and thereby deactivating the knitting machine.

It is to be noted that the provision of a pair of keyways, viz., 30 and 32, permits the needle protector to be activated by the deflection of the pointer to the right or left of its normal forward position; hence the name, Double Throw Needle Protector. The ability of the needle protector to be activated by the lateral movement of the pointer in either direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, permits the use of the same with flat knitting machines, as well as circular knitting machines.

It will be apparent that, when the needle protector is in its retracted position, the same is readily observable by an operator of said machine so that he may easily locate the portion of the fabric or those needles having the impediment thereon.

It is thus seen that I have provided a new and novel needle protector which is simple in both the manufacture and operation thereof.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, there are many modifications which may be made therein by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A retractable needle protector for use with a knitting machine having a stop motion device operatively associated therewith, means for securing said needle protector with respect to said knitting machine, said needle protector comprising a housing, a plunger slidably movable within said housing between forward and retracted positions, resilient means disposed within said housing for biasing said plunger into said retracted position, and a pointer connected to said plunger and being movable between forward and retracted positions corresponding to those of said plunger; said pointer having a reduced shank portion, a boss positioned adjacent said shank portion and an end portion defining a pointed tip which is placed in close proximity to the knitting needles of said knitting machine and immediately adjacent the fabric being knitted by said machine when said plunger is in its forward position and spaced from said fabric and said knitting needles when said plunger is in its retracted position; said housing having an opening in the front end portion thereof, said pointer projecting through and being slidably movable within said opening, means connected to said front end portion and disposed within said opening for biasingly engaging said boss to cause the front portion of said pointer to be slightly offset in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said pointer when said plunger is in its retracted position, said front portion of the pointer assuming its normal position when said plunger is moved from its retracted position to its forward position and said last mentioned means latchingly engaging said boss to maintain said pointer, and thereby said plunger, in its forward position, said pointer being slightly movable in a lateral direction by the engagement of the tip thereof by lumps of fuzz or similar defect upon said fabric or upon the knitting needles, said lateral movement causing said boss to become disengaged from said last mentioned means and permitting said resilient means to return said plunger to its retracted position and causing said stop motion device to deactivate said knitting machine.

2. A retractable needle protector for use with a knitting machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a cylindrical tubular member having a cap threadedly secured to the rear end portion thereof and said cap having a hole therein, said plunger including a stem portion which projects outwardly from said housing through said hole in said cap, said plunger being movable from its retracted to its forward position by the inward depression of said plunger stem.

3. A retractable needle protector for use with a knitting machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said resilient member comprises a helical spring acting between said plunger and the front end portion of said housing.

4. A retractable needle protector for use with a knitting machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said means connected to the front end portion of said housing comprises an integrally formed flange member projecting outwardly therefrom, said flange member forming a slot on either side thereof, said slots serving as keyways adapted to receive the boss on said pointer, said boss being positioned in one of said keyways when said plunger is in its retracted position and being slidably movable therewithin when said plunger is moved between its retracted and forward positions, said boss moving outwardly from said one of said keyways when said plunger is moved to its forward position, whereupon its innerend is latchingly engaged by the end of said flange member to retain said plunger in said forward position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RETRACTABLE NEEDLE PROTECTOR FOR USE WITH A KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A STOP MOTION DEVICE OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID NEEDLE PROTECTOR WITH RESPECT TO SAID KNITTING MACHINE, SAID NEEDLE PROTECTOR COMPRISING A HOUSING, A PLUNGER SLIDABLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING BETWEEN FORWARD AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, RESILIENT MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR BIASING SAID PLUNGER INTO SAID RETRACTED POSITION, AND A POINTER CONNECTED TO SAID PLUNGER AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN FORWARD AND RETRACTED POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THOSE OF SAID PLUNGER; SAID POINTER HAVING A REDUCED SHANK PORTION, A BOSS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SHANK PORTION AND AN END PORTION DEFINING A POINTED TIP WHICH IS PLACED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE KNITTING NEEDLES OF SAID KNITTING MACHINE AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE FABRIC BEING KNITTED BY SAID MACHINE WHEN SAID PLUNGER IS IN ITS FORWARD POSITION AND SPACED FROM SAID FABRIC AND SAID KNITTING NEEDLES WHEN SAID PLUNGER IS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION; SAID HOUSING HAVING AN OPENING IN THE FRONT END PORTION THEREOF, SAID POINTER PROJECTING THROUGH AND BEING SLIDABLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID OPENING, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRONT END PORTION AND DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OPENING FOR BIASINGLY ENGAGING SAID BOSS TO CAUSE THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID POINTER TO BE SLIGHTLY OFFSET IN A LATERAL DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID POINTER WHEN SAID PLUNGER IS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION, SAID FRONT PORTION OF THE POINTER ASSUMING ITS NORMAL POSITION WHEN SAID PLUNGER IS MOVED FROM ITS RETRACTED POSITION TO ITS FORWARD POSITION AND SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS LATCHINGLY ENGAGING SAID BOSS TO MAINTAIN SAID POINTER, AND THEREBY SAID PLUNGER, IN ITS FORWARD POSITION, SAID POINTER BEING SLIGHTLY MOVABLE IN A LATERAL DIRECTION BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE TIP THEREOF BY LUMPS OF FUZZ OR SIMILAR DEFECT UPON SAID FABRIC OR UPON THE KNITTING NEEDLES, SAID LATERAL MOVEMENT CAUSING SAID BOSS TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS AND PERMITTING SAID RESILIENT MEANS TO RETURN SAID PLUNGER TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION AND CAUSING SAID STOP MOTION DEVICE TO DEACTIVATE SAID KNITTING MACHINE. 